31 Weeks to a Better Genealogy Blog Catchup, Week 1: Elevator Pitch

I recently discovered a series entitled “31 Weeks to a Better Genealogy Blog,” at the Tonia’s Rootsblog. This series is based on the Darren Rowse (ProBlogger) e-book 31 Days to Build a Better Blog. Unfortunately, I am coming into this about a month late, so I am playing “catchup.” Once caught up, however, I plan to keep up with the series.

An “elevator pitch” is the common name for a brief summary of what you offer. All salespeople, business owners, and authors, among many other professions, are encouraged to create an elevator pitch. This summary should be just a few sentences, and describe in precise (and memorable) terms exactly what it is you do.

For a blog, an elevator pitch would be somewhere in between a tag line and an “About” page, in both length and detail.

Define your audience – who are you writing for? You may have more than one elevator pitch that you use for different audiences.

Keep it short – no more than 100-150 words. “Get to the point, eliminate unnecessary words and make it punchy!”

Be energetic – show people that you are passionate about what you are doing.

Know what you are trying to achieve – your goal is not tell everything about your blog, but to interest people in visiting – or staying – and reading.

I created an “About Me” page when I recently revived this blog as “Planting the Seeds,” from its earlier incarnation as “Tricks of the Tree.” The short summary of this blog reads,

This blog will discuss issues relating to professional genealogy, including research methodology, educational opportunities, best practices, and other subjects. Will also periodically discuss case studies and ‘Ask a Professional’ questions/answers.

This is already in the form of an elevator pitch. It is brief, to the point, and quickly summarizes exactly what this blog is about. I actually had the idea of an elevator pitch in mind when I wrote the paragraph.

I have also, in three months of regularly writing for the blog, pretty much stayed within the confines of my original vision for the blog. This actually surprises me, as my mind (and writing) tends to wander at times.

Like this:

Related

4 responses to this post.

Hi Michael: As a professional, I get your elevator speech. As layman in an elevator, I’d zone out. Maybe you need to tweak it for the non-professional ear. You could simplify the words so they’re not so academese.

[…] in the terms of the larger goal of your blog itself. In my earlier post in this series, “31 Weeks to a Better Genealogy Blog Catchup Week 1: Elevator Pitch,” the larger goal and purpose of the blog was […]

Copyright

Certified Genealogist (sm)

CG and Certified Genealogist are service marks of the Board for Certification of Genealogists, used under license by board certificants after periodic competency evaluation, and the board name is registered in the US Patent & Trademark Office.

Hait Family History Research Services

Click here to visit my professional website.

American Genealogical Studies: Guide to Documentation and Source Citation